Method of attaching keys and the articles



Aug. 15, 1933. H. HERMAN] METHOD OF ATTACHING KEYS AND THE ARTICLES Filed June 14 INVENTOR Hen r Hermani BY I had I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF ATTACHING KEYS AND THE ARTICLES Henry Hermani,

Baltimore, Md., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to American Can Company,

New York, N.

Y., a Corporation of New Jersey Application June 14, 1928. Serial No. 285,340

1 Claim.

This invention is an improvement in methods of attaching articles of metal, such as keys, to metallic surfaces, such as the tops of rip strip cans, and in the can top with the key.

In rip strip cans, it is desirable that a key for removing the rip strip be attached to the can, in such manner as to be easily detached therefrom when desired for use, but so held that there is little or no liability of accidental displacement.

In the usual construction, the key is connected with a metallic tongue, in turn secured to-or forming a part of the can, or it is spot-welded in place on the can.

One, of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a method ofattaching keys to cans, in such manner that the key is firmly held in dental displacement, while at the same time it is easily removed when desired for use;

Another object is the provisionof a connection such that the key may be utilized to shear the connection between it and the can, bylateral movement of the key.

Another object is the provision of a key so con-. nected to the can, and of such a construction, that accidental bending or breaking of the key during detachment will not in any way lessen its capacity as a rip strip remover.

Another object is the provision'of a connection of a character such as to facilitate the connection of the key to the can mechanically, that is, wholly by machinery.

Another object is the provision of a method wherein a ball or shot of solder or other suitable fusible material is first formed cold into a rivet connected with the key, and afterwards to the can.

In the drawing forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can top and a key prior to the connection of the key to the top.

. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sections showing the three steps in the method of connecting the key with the can.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the completed can with the key in place.

In Fig. 1, the improved key is shown in connection with a disk 1 of metal, which is designed to form the top of a can, by connecting the disk with the body 2 of a can, such as that shown in Fig. 5, the top being seamed to the body as shown at 3, and a rip strip 4 being provided in the body, so arranged that when detached it will separate the can into a top proper and a body.

place, with no liability to-acci- The key 5 is of usual construction, so far as concerns the body, handle, and slot for the rip strip tongue, but the end remote from the handle is flat as shown at 6, and provided with an opening 7, preferably of polygonal form for a purpose to be presently described.

In connecting the key to the disk which will form the top of the completed can, the key is laid thereon as shown at Fig. 2 in the proper position with respect to the disk, this operation and all of the succeeding operations being performed by a machine, forming the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 299,537 filed on August 14, 1928.

While the key is steadied in place on the top, a ball or shot 8 of solder or other suitable fusible material is fed into place over and into the opening 7, the ball being of a diameter somewhat greater than that of the opening, so that it will be held in the position of Fig. 2, and containing a suflicient quantity of solder to entirely fill the opening and provide a head above the flattened portion 6 of the key when subjected to succeeding operations.

The second step in the formation of the connection, is the forcing of the ball of solder into the opening 7, while at the same time it is headed as shown at 8a, the die by means of which the solder is forced into the opening 7 and headed, being indicated at 9.

With the key still steadied in position on the can top, a pair of electrodes 10 and 11 are contacted with the flattened portion of the key and the underface of the top 1 respectively, in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and sufficient heat is applied to soften the solder 8, so that the rivet shaped piece of solder is connected to the can top, in turn connecting the key thereto. Since the seaming of the top 1 to the can provides an upstanding flange or projecting seam as shown at 3, the key is protected and is within the overall height of the can.

The polygonal opening in the key provides for a polygonal body of the solder, and it will be apparent that by moving the key laterally by means of the handle portion, the body of the rivet may be sheared, thus providing for quick and easy detachment of the key, without much danger of damage to the key, such as bending or breaking, and without damage to the can top. Even should the key be bent or broken in detachment, it will be the flattened portion 6 which will bend, so that the slotted portion for engaging the rip strip tongue will not be in any way affected. When the can is completed as shown in Fig. 5, the key is well within the dimensions of the can, so that the cans may be packed for storage, without the liability to anything catching in the key, to .bend the same upward, or to move it laterally.

In applying the improved key, it is first placed on the can, and steadied in this position. The ball of cold solder or other suitable material is then placed and afterwards formed into a rivet while cold. The last step in the attachment of the key consists in -the heating of the rivet to connect the rivet to the top.

A suitable flux is or may be applied between the parts to be united by the soldering, in any usual manner.

It will be apparent from the description that the method consists broadly in first shaping a rivet of solder in the auxiliary opening of the key including a head at one end of the rivet, and afterwards heating the other end to cause it to adhere to the can. While the auxiliary opening is described as polygonal, it is obvious that it might have any form, except circular. That is, it might, for instance, be oval, or otherwise irregular with respect to circular. Substantially any irregular shaped opening which will prevent rotation of the key about the rivet shank without shearing of the rivet, will satisfy requirements.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed as new is:

The method of attaching opener keys provided with auxiliary openings to cans of the rip strip type, which consist in positioning a ball of solder over the opening, shaping the solder while cold to form a shaped piece of solder with a head at one face of the key, and then heating the other end to cause the solder to adhere to the can.

HENRY I-IERMANI. 

